Page 71 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

When I had asked why he would need to have anything of the sort when his patients were always quick healers, Ranbir’s eyes went wide. I could sense his nerves and fear, feel his panic. Whatever reason he had was apparently one I could not know. Eventually he offered a vague response.

“They might not always be.”

I did not ask again.

On the third day, Ranbir and I ran into a plant called prunella vulgaris. Ranbir nearly sobbed with joy at the sight of the plant that, according to the Healer, was not native to the region. He had left me after collecting what he needed to share the exciting news with Winona.

As he did each morning, Cyprus found me immediately after Ranbir and I parted. We were on our fourth day of travel following the Forest of Tragedies incident, and Cyprus had taken to getting to know me.

“Okay, today we talk about something you failed miserably at accomplishing,” he said, a smirk gracing his face. Cyprus had pulled back his hair, wrapping it in a leather tie at the base of his neck. He was a similar build to Ranbir, the two of them both tall and thin.

Today he wore loose black trousers and a dusty rose colored long sleeve top. His cream boots matched perfectly, pulling the outfit into a beautiful statement. It had a certain Tomorrow’s name written all over it. In fact, every one of Bellamy’s Trusted wore clothes that screamed Pino.

My own outfit did as well. The seamster must have known I had an aversion to gold, because he managed to add every color but that to my wardrobe. Each night, Bellamy brought me a pile of fresh clothing for the next day that made my eyes bulge. Today I wore skin tight trousers that matched the sand at Haven. Around my thigh was a sheath that appeared black, but glittered an assortment of colors in the sunlight, my dagger tucked safely inside.

On my upper half was the true statement. The sage green long sleeve top wrapped me like bandages, twirling up my torso and around my arms. The chest was missing, covered instead with black lace and cloth designs that deigned to cover my breasts somewhat. Over top I was given a leather corset the color of spiced cider, which stopped just below the lace and tied at my back. Like every other piece of clothing I received from Pino, it fit like an incredibly comfortable glove rather than suffocating me.

To tie each outfit together I had taken to copying the group and adding kohl to my eyes, the same black as my ankle high boots. Instead of smudging it onto my lid or under my eye, I dragged it from the outer corners and up, creating wings that would never fly. But a fae could dream.

No matter the outfit, I always wore my silver cloak. It seemed the only article of clothing we repeated were the covers, as the others sported their matching red ones daily too.

Winona was the best dressed of us all. Every piece was spectacular. The day prior she wore a top that appeared to be made of diamonds held together by thin gold chains. Her tanned skin was visible below, only a small gold wrap covering her breasts. Black leather pants adorned her bottom half, and thigh high boots that reflected in the sun topped the look off. According to her, being cold was worth looking extraordinary.

She had been doing my hair every morning and telling me of fantastical creatures that existed nowhere else in the world but Eoforhild, which had been both exciting and terrifying at once.

I eyed Cyprus as I thought of something I failed at, other than being as mystical as Bellamy’s Trusted of course.

“I once attempted to learn to sing, but my instructor was appalled that even after a fortnight I had not shown a hint of progress. The only thing I failed worse at was learning the language of The Old Ones. My tutor yelled at me for a year straight before finally giving up. I can pick up on a few words here and there, but it mostly goes in one ear and out the other.”

At my admission, Cyprus let out a laugh that echoed across the small dining area of the inn. This had been the first one to not be enthralled by the idea of the crown prince residing in their establishment. Instead, these demons were hostile and ignorant. They had refused to allow Ranbir and Lian in at all, though they would have gladly thrown out Bellamy as well judging by the looks they had given him. There were no faeries here either.

It seemed a half-fae prince was not enough to eradicate the hatred for the inhabitants of Betovere. Perhaps the feud would never die, fae and demons alike always at war over prejudices that had been engraved into them since birth.

Bellamy had been prepared to concede, suggesting to us in a hushed voice that we would all make camp somewhere else, but something in me raged at the way they were ostracized. Based on the anger that poured off of the prince, I knew he was barely leashing his own frustration, fighting that reputation of ripping out hearts and burning beings alive.

Without hesitating, I latched onto their minds, burrowing my way in. I had taken to silently practicing on the others for fun lately, not saying anything until they managed to find me in their heads and nag at me to stop. But that had been entertainment. This was business.

“You will allow us to spend the evening here. You will show us kindness. You will kneel for your prince and treat him with the respect he deserves,” I had ordered them, the tenor of my voice dropping to a low and seductive tone. I could sense the others tensing at my back, the way they all radiated fear despite knowing I would not harm them. Not now when I was just beginning to enjoy their company that is.

The two males had fallen to the ground, tears streaming and apologies spewing from their mouths. I had rolled my eyes, past the point of forgiveness. However, I had not missed the way they seemed to face me as they bowed. No one had scolded me, but the others did keep their space for the rest of the night.

The two demons had not bothered us again.

Even with my power, I knew it was not ideal to annoy the hosts, so I quickly jabbed Cyprus in the gut with my elbow, earning a satisfying grunt from the whisp. I moved my hand to my mouth to stifle my own laughs at his slightly bent form.

“What about you, oh great shadow? What is something you have failed at?” I inquired.

He pursed his lips, looking off to the side as he mulled over the question. Whatever answer he might have found was lost when his eyes went wide. My nerves skyrocketed as I turned, praying to Eternity that there was not a rabid beast at my back.

Eternity must have felt humorous today, because it was not a mere monster that stood behind me. No, it was Bellamy. He was only a few feet away, scowling at Cyprus over my shoulder. The nerve of that demon was absurd. But I could not bring myself to think of anything other than the fact I had not seen him today, and I was not prepared for his appearance.

We matched, which was now our new normal. I was unsure if Pino or Bellamy was responsible, but I had come to expect the demon prince to use our coordination as a way to initiate conversation, and then proceed to shamelessly flirt with me for the remainder of the day.

That was not what left me breathless though, not in the slightest. It was the utter indecency of his clothing. His sandy pants fit him as snugly as my own, better even. The sage top he wore had loose fitting sleeves that were rolled up to the elbow, showing his cream skin and the black tattoos atop it. The neckline of the shirt cut down in a low V shape, nearly reaching his navel. Black strings laced up the opening, though they remained untied, matching his black boots.

His dark hair was a mess, but it only added to his appeal, much to my disdain. Bellamy was aggravatingly handsome, even more so as his eyes moved from Cyprus to me. The blue was not nearly as startling as when he chose to wear cosmetics below them, but they still captivated me. An odd sense of déjà vu hit me while I stared into them, one I could not quite place.

“Well, I better go bathe while I have the chance; I know this will be our last inn for a few days. You will have to let me hear that incredible singing voice of yours later,” Cyprus said, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek and then winking at Bellamy. With that, Cyprus was gone, fading to shadow. I rolled my eyes at his hasty exit.

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